Whirlwind Sweeps Through Ilsan

A strong whirlwind swept through parts of Ilsan north of Seoul on Tuesday, damaging around two dozen greenhouses and other structures, the Korea Meteorological Administration said Wednesday.

The tornado swept through parts of the city at around 7:20 p.m. starting from the Han River and lasting around 30 minutes. Some residents were injured by flying debris.

Left: A strong whirlwind is spotted in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday in this screen grab from broadcaster SBS.; Right: A man looks at greenhouses destroyed by a strong whirlwind in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday. /News 1

The KMA said the whirlwind was caused by unstable atmospheric conditions which led to heavy showers and thunder.

But it was weaker than the giant tornados that often wreak havoc in the central U.S.